Your New Nightcap: German Digestifs To Try Right Now

Love the spiced, bittersweet family of Italian digestifs known as amari ? Allow us to introduce you to their German counterparts: krauterlikors. Whereas amari are typically marked by hints of cinnamon and saffron, krauterlikors are characterized by anise and black-licorice notes. Jägermeister, the most familiar of these German digestifs, falls at the sweetest end of the spectrum, and on the driest side you’ll find Underberg. Originally developed as an herbal tonic, the liqueur is available at Somerville brauhaus Bronwyn by the single-serve bottle, and in cocktails such as the “DJ Steef” (Czech Fernet, Underberg, apple-cinnamon syrup, and lemon juice), where the bitter liquid “brings its own unique herbal tone,” says bar manager Billy Weston. “It’s really dry, really floral—it’s not sweet at all.” At home, Weston suggests balancing Underberg’s bite with dry vermouth and orange and pineapple juices. Of course, you could always do what the Germans do: throw back the whole bottle on its own.

Illustration by Ellaphant in the Room